Pneumatic action for musical instruments



Feb. 11, 1930. WEFEL PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Aug.15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 11, 1930. A. 1.. WEFEL PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 2Sheets-Sheet; 2

Filed Aug. 15- 1927 4e /6 30 "/7 7 INVENTOR.

IZyY/JI Z. W)?! I 7 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 11, 1930 PATENT OFFICE AUGUST L. WEFEL, OF KANSAS CITY,KANSAS PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed August15, 192?.

This invention relates to pneumatic action for musical instruments, andespecially to what is known as the single valve type. hile this deviceis shown as used on an automatic musical instrument in which areemployed pneumatic devices under the control of the perforated musicsheets, yet it may be employed in other than musical instruments,

0 which employ devices operated by pneumat- One of the objects of thisinvention is the provision of a housing for the striker pneumatic towhich said pneumatic is attached, and which is demountably attached tothe 5 action chest, and serves to separate adjacent pneumatics thuspreventing undue interference with the action of the same. This housingalso serves to hold the parts of the pneumatic in working alignment, andalso permits the removal of any single pneumatic without interferingwith any of the other parts. It is of particular importance that thepneumatics are so positioned on the action chest that the housing, whichhas but one side member, serves to house the adjacent sides ofsuccessive pneumatics. This arrangement of the housing and pneumaticspermits all of the usual 88 pneumatics to be mounted on one actionchest, and in one continuous row.

Another object is the provision of a pneumatic action having a removableside plate provided with a series of equally spaced valve chambers, eachof which has a valve seat held in position by having a press fit in saidplate.

A- further object of this invention is the contemplation of a pneumaticaction having bearing plates located within the suction 4Q chamberbetween the valves and pouches, which serve as the sole support for theen tire series of slidably mounted valve stems. This constructionpermits the removal of any stem from either side of the action chestwithout interfering with the the position of the bearing plates, thusmaintaining a good alignment of the valve stems at all times.

A still further: object of this invention is the revision of a pouchhaving a press fit in t e front plate of the action chest, and

Serial No. 212,926.

also having a diaphragm which is entirely mounted within the pouchcasing.

Other objects are to produce a simple and inexpensive device, to reduceleakage to a minimum, and to obtain quickness and eflicient action.

Minor objects of this invention will appear during the course of thedetailed specifica tion, referring to the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1, is a cross sectional elevation of a pneumatic valveaction,'embodying this invention.

Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the same, with some of the partspartially broken away.

Fig. 3, is a longitudinal plan section taken on line TIL-1110f Fig. 2.

Fig. 4, is a perspective view of one of the striker pneumatics with thehousing attached, and'disengaged from the action chest.

Fig. 5, is a view similar to the one shown in Fig. 1, but with thepneumatic shown in the collapsed position.

6, is an enlarged sectional view of the pouch, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VIIVII of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews, and the numeral 8 designates a longitudinally disposed actionchest having a suction chamber 9 from which the air is exhausted in theusual manner through the pipe 10. Action chamber 8 is provided with afront plate 11 which is securely attached to the main body of the chestby screws 12 and 13. The action chest is also provided with a rear plate14-, which is secured to the main body of the action chest by means ofscrews 15 and 16. Positioned within rear plate 14: is a series ofequally spaced valve chambers 17 which communicate with the suctionchamber "9 thru ports 18. A bushing 19 having an atmosphere port 19 isprovided with an annular flange tightly fitted into valve chamber 17until the flange of said port contacts with the outerwall of the rearplate. Thus, securing a tight joint to prevent the passage of airtherethru, and permitting removal.

Front plate 11 is provided with a series of equally spaced circularopenings 20 in axial alignment with va-lve chamber 17, in which arepress fitted flanged pouches 21, said flanges rest against the outerwall of the front plate, thus permitting the removal of any pouch forrepair. The pouches 21 are provided with sleeves 22 which communicatewith the inner chambers 23 of said pouches, and are adapted to beengaged by tubes 24,

- which are connected to the tracker bar 25 in the usual manner, and theperforated music sheet 25 passing over said tracker bar con trols theflow of air into the pouch. Positioned in the valve chamber 17 betweenatmosphere ports 19 and portlS, is a valve 26 mounted on valve stem 27,which is adapted to alternately close said ports. ()no end of said valvestem is in operative relation with pouch 21, and is provided with abutton 28 f'emovably attached thereto. Valve stem 27 is slidably mountedin two longitudinally disposed bearing plates 29, which are preferablymade from some non-corrosive material, such as celluloid, and areprovided with open- 'ngs 29 which permit the free flow of luid to allparts of the suction chamber. Bearing plates 29 extend the full lengthof suction chambers, and serve'to carry all of the series of valvestems.

Carried by the action chest 8 thru the intermediacy of housings 30,which are securely attached to the action chest by means of screws 13and 16, is a series of striker pneumatics 31, securely attached tohousing 30 by means of screws 32. Each pneumatic is in communicationwith its corresponding valve chamber thru port 33 in which is pressed athimhle 34: which also engages the upper wall of said pneumatic. Themovable part of the pneumatic is provided with a longitudinal extension35 having an adjustable contact member 36, which is adapted to operatethe key ac tion 37, in the usual manner.

Referring now to the pouch 21 more in deail, which is clearly shown inthe enlarged Fig. 6. It will be noted that the diaphragm 38 ispositioned wholly within the casing of the pouch 21, and is securelyheld in position by means of an internal sleeve 39, which serurely bindssaid diaphragm against the in nor wall of casing 21. Also the diaphragm38 is provided with a wear plate 40, which serves to contact with thebutton 28. It will also be noted that the pouch is provided with a bleed51, which is of proper proportion to permit the pouch to functionproperly. 'When the air is admitted thru the perforated music sheet 25",the air passes thru the opening in the tracker bar 25, thru the tube 24,then into the pouch chamber 23, forcing the diaphragm 38 against button28 on valve stem 27, thus uns sea-ting the valve 26, which normallycloses port 18, due to the atmospheric pressure can erted against it.When the valve moves to close atmosphere port 19, the air which is inthe pneumatic 31 will be drawn into the suc tion chamber, and thepneumatic will be in the striking position, as shown in Fig. 5. When theair passes into the chamber 23 of the pouch 21, as just described, thebleed ll will permit only a small portion of said air' to enter thesuction chamber, but is suificien ly large to allow the diaphragm 28 topass back to its normal position as shown in Fig. l, whenthe air isagain out off by the music sheet 25. l

Referring now to Fig. l, showing more in detail the housingSO, to whichthe pneumatic 31 is attached by means of screws 32, which are preferablycounter sunk and flush with housing. Housing 30 is provided withupturned ears 4:2 and 43, adapted to engage rear plate 14, and frontplate 11, respectively. Screw 16 serves to securely. clamp ear 4-2against the rear plate, and also to secure said rear plate to themainbody of the action chest. Likewise, the screw 13 secures ear 43 to thefront plate 11, and also secures said frontplate to the main body of theaction chest. Extending downwardly and in juxtaposition with one of theside walls of the pneumatic 31, is the side wall l l of housing 30. Saidside wall extends to the lower edge of the pneumatic, and isco-eXtensive therewith. It is apparent that should one of thesepneumatics become defective, it could easily be removed by removingscrews 16 and 13, then pulling the housing free from the action chest.This could he done without interfering with adjacent pneumatics. Repairscould then be made, or the pneumatic could be removed from the housingby removing screws 32, and replacement made. Since the housing 30 hasbut one depending side wall, which serves as a housing and guide foradjacent walls, the pneumatic is more accessible when removed andattached to the housing, as shown in -l.

I do not limit this invention to the struc ture shown and described,'asmany modifica tions within the scope of the appended claims may be madewithout departing, from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1, In a pneumatic action for musical instru nents, an action chesthaving a detachable side and an exhaust chamber, a valve chamberpositioned within said detachable side having an atmosphere port and aport opening into said exhaust chamber said ports Y beingformed in saiddetachable side, a valve disposed between the said ports, a pneumaticmeans carried by said action chest adapted to operate said valve, and astriker pneumatic carried by said action chest adjacent said. valvechamberand communicating therewith.

2. I a pneumatic action for musical imul n an flatten/chest having adete9h= able side and an exhaust chamber, a series of aligned and spacedapart valve chambers po sitioned within said detachablev side, eachvalve chamber having an atmosphere port and a port opening into saidexhaust chamber and a valve in each valve chamber disposed between saidports said ports being formed in said detachable sine, a series ofpneumatic means carried by said action chest, each of said pneumaticmeans being adapted to operate one of said valves, and a series ofstriker pneumatics carried by said action chest, one of which isadjacent each of said valve chambers and communicates therewith.

3. In a pneumatic action for musical instruments, an action chest havingopposite detachable sides and an exhaust chamber, a series of spacedapart valve chambers positioned within one or" said detachable sides,each valve chamber having an atmosphereport and a port opening into saidexhaust chamber, a valve in each valve chamber positioned between saidports and having a valve stem siidably mounted in bearing platespositioned entirely within said exhaust chamber and common to all valvestems, a series or pneumatic means carried by said action chest, each ofsaid pneumatic means being adapted to operate one of said valves, and aseries of striker pneumatics carried by said action chest, one of whichis adjacent each of said valve chambers and communicates therewith.

at. In a pneumatic action for musical instruments, an action chesthaving a detachable side and an exhaust chamber, a series of spacedapart valve chambers positioned within said detachable side, each valvechamber having an atmosphere port and a portopening into said exhaustchamber, a valve in each valve chamber adapted to close either of saidports, a series of pneumatic.pouches press iitted into openings in theside wall of said action chest, each of said pneumatic pouches being incommunication with a suitable tracker bar aperture and in operableconnection with one of said valves, and a series of striker pneumaticscarried by said action chest, each of said striker pneumatics beingadjacent one of said valve chambers and communicating therewith.

5. In a pneumatic action for musical 1nstruments, an action chest havinga. detachable side and an exhaust chamber, a series of spaced apartvalve chambers positioned within said detachable side, each valvechamber having an atmosphere port and a port opening into said exhaustchamber, a valve in each valve chamber adapted to close either of saidports, a series of pneumatic pouches carried by the wall of said actionchest, each of said pneumatic pouches being in communication with asuitable tracker bar aperture and H1 operable connection with one ofsaid valves, an operati diaphragm entirely contained wi hin each oi.said pneumatic pouches, and

a series of striker pneumatics carried by said action chest, each ofsaid striker pneumatics being adjacent one of said valve chambers andcommunicating therewith.

6. In a pneumatic action for musical instruments, an action chest havinga detachable side and an exhaust chamber, a series of spaced apart valvechambers positioned Within said detachable side, each valve chamberhaving an atmosphere port and a port opening into said exhaust chamber,a valve in each valve chamber disposed between said ports, a series ofpneumatic means carried by said action chest, each of said pneumaticmeans being adapted to operate one of said valves, a series ofindependent housings removably attached to said action chest, eachhousing of said series being adjacent one of said valve chambers, and astriker pneumatic carried by each of said housings and in communicationwith said adjacent valve chamber.

'4'. In a pneumatic action for musical instruments, the combination,with an action chest having an exhaust chamber, a valve chamber havingan atmosphere portand a port communicating with said exhaust chamber, avalve positioned between said ports and pneumatic means in operableconnection with a tracker bar aperture for operating said valve, of ahousing positioned adjacent said valve chamber and removably attached tosaid action chest, and a striker pneumatic carried by said housing andin communication with said adjacent valve chamber.

8, In a pneumatic action for musical instruments, the combination, withan action chest having a detachable side and an exhaust chamber, aseries of spaced apart valve chambers positioned within said detachableside, each valve chamber having an atmosphere port and a port openinginto said exhaust chamber, a valve in each valve chamber disposedbetween said ports, a series of pneumatic means carried by said actionchest, each of which is adapted to operate one of said valves, of aseries of housings removably attached to said action chest, each of saidhousings being adjacent one of said valve chambers and having a strikerpneumatic carried thereby, an air passage connecting said pneumatic andadjacent valve chamber, and a side wall of each housing positionedbetween adjacent sides of successive striker pneumatics and(to-extensive therewith.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afltix my signature.

AUGUST L. IVEFEL.

